Background

Mali has about 20 hydroelectric power sites across the national territory with a total capacity of approximately 1150 MW. Four sites (representing approximately 25% of the national potential) are developed: Félou (0.6 MW, approx. 3 GWh/year), Sotuba (5.2 MW, approx. 40 GWh/year), Selingué (44 MW, approx. 200 GWh/year) and Manantali (200 MW, approx. 800 GWh/year). The solar potential ranges from 5 to 7 kWh/m2/day, while the wind speed in the Sahelian and Saharan areas of the country ranges from 3 to 7 m/s on average annually. The biomass potential consists of:

1. Timber formations estimated at nearly 33 million hectares,
2. Agro-industrial residues which the country has at its disposal every year;
3. Huge potential for the production of substitute vegetable oil and fuel alcohol.

All hydrocarbon consumption is imported at a prohibitive cost of supply negatively affecting the national balance of payments. Apart from the forest formations on which the pressure of demand and the inefficient use of wood energy weighs heavily, all other energy potentials in Mali are now largely underexploited.